Education scam :Aggrieved candidates write to PM
SHILLONG: Aspiring teachers who have been left in the doldrums following the tampering of marks of the candidates in the recruitment of LP teachers in the State have now petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking action against the Mukul Sangma-led MUA-II government for allegedly shielding the then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and others, who had been named by the CBI in the infamous “education scam”.
Several of the aspirants, under the banner of All Garo Hills State Eligibility Test Passed Association, in a representation submitted to the Prime Minister through the Meghalaya BJP president, bemoaned that genuine candidates had been deprived of their jobs due to the interference of the Minister and other officials who covertly included many names of their choice for appointment as assistant teachers in the Government LP schools.
Referring to the CBI report, the Association cited the names of other ministers of the MUA-II Government including Deputy Chief Minister R.C. Laloo who had recommended the maximum number of 37 candidates for appointments, Cabinet Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who recommended the names of 30 candidates, Prestone Tynsong, who recommended 20 candidates and AL Hek, who forwarded the names of seven candidates.
Quoting the CBI inquiry report and the statement of former Education department official JD Sangma, the Association said that in the course of his examination by CBI, Sangma had admitted that under the instruction of the then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, he had changed the score sheet, duly applying white fluid on the original marks awarded by the members of the selection board.
The Association wondered why the Chief Minister, instead of removing the tainted Minister, accommodated her as the Minister in charge of Urban Affairs in the Cabinet.
According to the aggrieved candidates, the State Police are engaged in killing innocent youths who are arrested without any evidence; yet no action is taken against those involved in the ‘education scam’ which has brought in untold miseries to the job aspirants while the accused minister enjoys the support of the Chief Minister and continues to hold a coveted post in the cabinet.
The Association sought the intervention of the Prime Minister and urged him to take appropriate action against the State Government for not taking steps to remove the former Education Minister and other officials.
FIR pending: The Association also stated that some NGOs had filed an FIR against Ampareen Lyngdoh in the office of the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills. However, the police have not taken any action in this regard.
“The Police department just ignored the matter and has not taken any initiative to pursue the matter,” the Association said, adding, “It appears that there is a separate law and IPC for the ministers and officers as compared to the common man.”